John 21:17-19
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
Jesus wanted to make certain that Peter understood that really loving Him meant giving up his life for others, not just Himself. So Jesus asked three times if Peter loved Him - then got him to admit He knows his heart as part of all things. So the call to follow allowed Peter to count the cost of suffering and dying in serving. Do we follow by taking up a cross of imminent death each day in following where Jesus went, or do we just want to follow the first fruit of the resurrection into eternity apart from it?
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